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Each of them would lose, and I would be no exception, Gu Ping said calmly. Losing means you can get back up, losing means you can fight again. Just like Bu Luo, before losing, I had prepared for defeat; I had enough chips ready. What was the cost of losing? Clearly, that time I did not.
The two were almost pressed together. Even though Gu Ping's voice was low, Wei Dedao could hear him clearly; Gu Ping's words echoed in his heart.
Yes, everyone would lose, and he was no exception. But did he have a reason not to lose?
Had I crossed the Ninth Underworld? Wei Dedao suddenly halted his movements, as Bei Qinping sent him flying with a punch. He knew he might truly be on the verge of losing.
Gu Ping shook his head; he had not crossed the Ninth Underworld and had only heard Zhuang Zhixian describe its general appearance—a world without sky, chaotic and filled with all sorts of bizarre creatures.
He was sent by the Oil Lu Dao. If he could win, his family could move to the World of Mortals to live there, as promised by the Ming Huang Sect.
There was no tragic story, just a seemingly small wish. But for an ordinary family living in the Ninth Underworld, it felt like a distant dream—so far out of reach.
As a child, he often heard Mr. Book talk about the beauty of the World of Mortals. Now that he was here, he found it truly was as beautiful as Mr. Book described. He looked at the sun, the green mountains, and the blue sky. He thought to himself: "I don't deny it." Should he hate me?
Gu Ping remained noncommittal. Everyone had their reasons—one for survival or for a better life. Wei Dedao was like that; he too was like that. To say hatred was "I don't deny it" felt overly contrived, but the truth remained.
No one would choose to retreat on that path, and no one would sympathize with my weakness. Just like the two standing on either side of the plank road at this moment—one could reach the peak while the other could win; Bu Luo standing at the mountain top had different needs and paid different prices.
I wouldn't expect him to let me pass; he wouldn't let me through either. As someone from the Ninth Underworld, I should know that choosing this path meant accepting risks. Thus, there could only be one battle.
Only one battle: if I lost, Wei Dedao would surely be erased from that world by the academy, just like many who evaporated into thin air—no one would remember Wei Dedao's name. If I won, I could fulfill my wish and bring my family to the World of Mortals to live the life they longed for.
Life doesn't have to be so complicated; sometimes, all it needs is a simple reason. Isn't that what they all seek? Living each month, isn't there a pursuit worth chasing? That alone could make life better.
They all say he is no genius, but what does that make him compared to me? Wei Dedao mocked himself.
He is no genius either, and certainly not the lucky kind. Gu Ping responded directly to Wei Dedao's words.
Perhaps.
The two of them had previously sought to end that fight, where only one could emerge victorious. They charged at each other, throwing punches and grappling without any particular technique. But this time, Gu Ping held nothing back; every strike landed at a particularly vulnerable angle on Wei Dedao. Wei Dedao gritted his teeth and continued to struggle with Gu Ping.
It was over.
Wei Dedao heard Gu Ping's initial words. As soon as they fell, he felt himself lift off the ground, flying toward Shandong. This time, it truly was over. He had finally paid the price for his own choices, and that small wish of his would likely never come true.
Through the Illusory Sky Mirror, he saw the crowd suddenly fall silent. No one cheered or applauded—was it out of sympathy or deeper contemplation? In truth, everyone was just like him: living and striving to live better.
He no longer looked at the fallen Wei Dedao. Gu Ping ran toward the mountain peak along Jie Donglai's path; there he would find himself, with no one to contest him anymore. Having completed that task, for him, it was also a transaction with the academy's elder. He had gained an opportunity to enter the Outer Court, trading one life—or even a family's life—for that chance.
Was it heavy? Perhaps not; blocking someone's path is often the hardest thing to relent on. Tomorrow, Wei Dedao would be the one obstructing Gu Ping's way forward. There would be no compromises or retreats; once he stepped onto that road, he could only move forward. Everyone has their own reasons for living, and in the future, they would encounter even more heart-wrenching situations. Should they just give up their lives?
From that moment on, Gu Ping became resolute; once he stepped onto that path, there was no turning back. He could shed tears for me, but I could not stop his advance. It may seem cruel, but that was simply how things worked according to the fundamental rules of that road.
With the Mingyue Martial Examination concluded, thirty-two individuals had reached the summit. The bright moon announced the results, and the city celebrated. As Gu Ping stood atop the peak at that moment, news of the Martial Examination's conclusion spread throughout the area.
After the bright moon, whether or not one would be named on the gold list was already determined. Aside from that initial battle where Coco was involved, no one would inquire about the past of someone who had already fallen off the cliff.
Cheers erupted from the crowd. The character for "color" in Lu State signifies the highest praise, and only after gaining everyone's acknowledgment could one receive this honor. Although that first battle left many deep in thought, it did not hinder the common people's view that Gu Ping had made significant contributions to Lu State's martial arts. In their eyes, Gu Ping was a hero who had eliminated the Nine Nether Person.
The crowd was informed that after July, all lists would be finalized, and those who had not reported to the academy would be considered to have forfeited their qualifications. Vacancies would not be filled, so all students and candidates were urged to remember this.
As another cheer echoed through the air, the crowd began to disperse. Those who had reached the peak were escorted back by the Disciples of the Academy. By that time, it was likely that the academy had already dealt with any lurking beasts, and allowing them to return alone would have been quite dangerous. Thus, the academy arranged for their safe return.
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